New Mexico has been pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to pay back 1.5 million dollars for a mining spill from last summer.

New Mexico has been pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to pay back 1.5 million dollars for a mining spill from last summer.

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Updated: 7:45 PM MDT Mar 18, 2016

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WEBVTT IKHANI JOINS US WITH MORE. >> IT'S BEEN NEARLY 9 MONTHS SINCE MORE THAN A MILLION GALLONS OF ORANGE SLUDGE MADE UP OF LEAD AND ARSENIC CAME FLOWING DOWN THE ANIMAS RIVER STRAIGHT INTO NEW MEXICO >> REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE COMMUNITIES, IT WAS ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER. REPORTER: IT STARTED IN COLORADO WHERE A CREW WORKING AT THE ABANDONED GOLD KING MINE ACCIDENTALLY BREACHED A WALL AND TOXIC WATER CAME SPEWING OUT. THE STATE FORKED UP $1.5 MILLION TO IMMEDIATELY TAKE CARE OF TH SPILL, WHICH IT ANTICIPATES GETTING BACK FROM THE EPA. BUT BECAUSE THE TOXINS HAVE SOAKED INTO THE RIVER BED, THE LONG-TERM WORK WILL COST SOME SERIOUS CASH. HERE IN MY HAND I HAVE A SEDIMENT SAMPLE THAT WAS TAKEN RECENTLY ALONGSIDE THE ANIMAS RIVER IN COLORADO AND THE ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT'S CONCERN IS THAT THIS TOXIC SLUDGE WILL CONTINUE MAKING ITS WAY INTO NEW MEXICO. OFFICIALS SAY THE EPA HAS OFFERED UP LESS THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS FOR LONG-TERM MONITORING BUT THE STATE NEEDS MORE THAN 10 TIMES THAT AMOUNT TO GET THE JOB DONE. >> IF EPA UNWILLING TO WORK WITH US, THEN WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WHATEVER NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE FULLY COMPSENATED FOR THE DAMAGE THAT HAS BEEN CAUSED. AND IF THAT MEANS TAKING THEM TO COURT, THEN SO BE IT. REPORTER: THE STATE HAS ALREADY FILED AN INTENT TO SUE. AND THEY HOPE THE EPA STARTS TO TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY, HERE, WHEN >> THEY CAUSED THE PROBLEM, THEY ARE CLEARLY HOLDING THEMSELVES TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD. REPORTER: SO THEY CAN ENSURE SAFE DRINKING AND IRRIGATION WATER TO THE MANY NEW MEXICANS

State Demands EPA Pay for Spill

New Mexico has been pressing the Environmental Protection Agency to pay back 1.5 million dollars for a mining spill from last summer.